The conservation of teddy bears
Teddy bears are much loved toys and comforters, but in the course of being cuddled and played with they become soiled and damaged. Ears are torn, paws worn away; they become distorted and grubby. Because of their importance to their owners they are not usually discarded and replaced like worn out clothes; their lives are extended through darning, patching and other home repairs. Some teddy bears are passed onto subsequent generations where they suffer further wear and tear.
In a museum their purpose changes; they become objects in a collection, in this instance at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood.
Conservation of these teddy bears involved removing the old repairs - some of which had distorted the original form, and maintaining all that remained of the original object. (Of course if the object had an important provenance it may have been that the repairs were of interest too).They were cleaned and returned to their original shapes.
Click on the images below for larger versions and further details.
A gift in your will
You may not have thought of including a gift to a museum in your will, but the V&A is a charity and legacies form an important source of funding for our work. It is not just the great collectors and the wealthy who leave legacies to the V&A. Legacies of all sizes, large and small, make a real difference to what we can do and your support can help ensure that future generations enjoy the V&A as much as you have.
MoreShop online
Bear Playing Cards
A traditional 52 playing card set featuring a delightful bear illustration on the back…
Buy nowEvent - George Jackson Plasterers
Fri 28 June 2013 10:00
George Jackson is the UK’s foremost and most historical specialist plastering company.
Book online
